A bike friendly Mexico City

When Mexico City’s lefty Mayor Marcelo Ebrard began the Sunday morning rides five years ago — known as Muevete en Bici — his critics (heck, even some of his friends) thought it was a publicity stunt. Ebrard famously commutes to work once a month by bike, and drags his staff along.

Sure, urban bicycle rides are now popular in major first world cities, but in the Mexican capital, famous for its clogged arteries and heart-clutching smog?

I was JUST there 11 days ago and witnessed this firsthand. It was really shocking to see so many people out cycling (and jogging or rollerblading) on the major streets. There were support tents, course officials, street vendors (which were usually present other days, too), and hundreds of people. The event was equivalent of a small marathon in the states, but was just any old Domingo in el D.F.